by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in General Human Services involves the study of Human Services, General. A Program That Focuses On The General Study And Provision Of Human And Social Services To Individuals And Communities And Prepares Individuals To Work In Public And Private Human Services Agencies And Organizations. Includes Instruction In The Social Sciences, Psychology, Principles Of Social Service, Human Services Policy, Planning And Evaluation, Social Services Law And Administration, And Applications To Particular Issues, Services, Localities, And Populations. Examples: [Human Service Studies], [Human Services Studies]. Read on to learn the key facts every general human services student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general human services programs.
In the U.S., general human services is a popular field of study, with 11,674 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Human Services Schools ranking analyzes these 421 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general human services students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general human services programs later in this article.
Programs in General Human Services build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general human services graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a general human services program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general human services major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general human services degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 253 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3,751 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5,695 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,832 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 124 |
People currently working in careers related to general human services tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.9% |
| Master’s degree | 14.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 14.0% |
| Some college courses | 10.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 5.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general human services careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying general human services can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general human services.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general human services.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social and Human Service Assistants | 253,977 | 9.5% |
| Social and Community Service Managers | 181,916 | 13.3% |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | 38,623 | 13.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of general human services graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,474 |
| 4 years | $39,398 |
| 5 years | $44,764 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general human services graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general human services grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Managers | $156,089 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $75,358 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $69,957 |
With 421 different general human services programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general human services school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
